An early look at Maryland's offensive line

It’s easy to point to who won’t be playing on Maryland’s offensive line this season. Tackles Max Garcia and R.J. Dill transferred in the offseason, leaving holes where the Terrapins probably didn’t expect them.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t entirely look like a rerun of 2009, when an incredibly thin and inexperienced offensive line provided an ominous warning sign for the 2-10 season that was to come.

SEE RELATED:

Granted, this isn’t as developed a unit as it could have been. But the Terps are likely to open camp with two seniors and two juniors in starting positions.

The biggest uncertainty might be at left tackle, where junior Nick Klemm (who played in six games last season) is tentatively set to take over.

“He’s a fellow who’s been here all along,” veteran offensive line coach Tom Brattan said last week. “And really, it’s his time. It’s his time. You can kind of see him growing into that role.”

Maryland appears set to plug in senior Justin Gilbert at right tackle. Gilbert started three games at left tackle in 2010 and three games at right guard last season; he missed all but one game in between with multiple ACL tears.

Brattan said if the season began now, Bennett Fulper would get the nod at left guard. The senior started 10 games at center before a pulled hamstring ended his season. Sal Conaboy, a sophomore who started the last two games, appears to be Maryland’s likely starting center.

That leaves right guard as the position most in flux entering preseason practice.

“It could be De’Onte Arnett. It could be Josh Cary, who started all last season,” Brattan said. “Very underrated player, I think.”

One wild card is junior Peter White, who had offseason surgery on both shoulders and did not participate in spring practice. White started six games at left guard last season after Andrew Gonnella’s season-ending injury.

“Hopefully he gets back in the mix,” Brattan said. “That would give us some additional depth inside there. Or if Pete comes back ready to go, he could vie for playing time.”